New 997 (pic)

Normally it should be this one 996 C2 in september 2004 C4, Cabrio and GT3 in 2005 Turbo in 2006

Doubt it. (yawn)... This photoshopped pic's been around a while, was shown on a beach once a few months ago. No headlight washers. Note the blinker in the bumper...ala early 911 - a downward trend if you get bumped you have to replace/fix more than just a bumper cover (bad idea)..... I like the flared rear hips though, and I would expect to see something along these lines in the 997, but the lights don't do a thing for me. I'd stick with the 996 if that were the case. Much to see in the very near future, I believe, but this is simply digitized fantasy. My two cents.

It is photoshopped but the people who have seen the car said that it is identical!

And the hips are *not* flared. See the post with the crash tested 997. Though the front was damaged the rear was clear and unmasked. I agree. Not enough changes to warrant a purchase

From what my sources have told me (some have seen the mules) the rear is flared, somewhere between the C2 and C4, very subtle, but nice. The crash test mule was who-knows-what. Could have been a Heinz-57, if you know what I mean. Mostly 997, some 996, etc, and the shots were from a good distance away. If the 2-3" width of the C4S is only something you can really see from within say 15' or so, imagine what you cannot see through the lens from 50'. Just my thoughts. I believe it's just around the corner, and I sure hope they consider something like we see on the CGT for the front lights...much sleeker, up-to-date and better than what is shown in the photoshop. But I really just wish they'd let this cat out of the bag already....and maybe they'd see boatloads of cash show up at PAG's doorstep at the same time!

The problem with that is that most dealers still have lots of 03s sitting around, and there will be lots of 04s available. Releasing info/pics now would kill any chance of selling those cars. I for one hope it doesn't look like that. Those turn signal/fog light units in the front bumper are hideous.

I just hope the 997 is in fact enough 'new' car to warrant the internal number change. I'm worried that Porsche will just try to pass off another heavy cosmetic workover of the 8 year old 996 platform with the usual modest 10-15bhp bump in power. No other company gets away with that, why should they. It's bad enough they still haven't returned to racing but the 996 is way dated and long due for replacement. If the 997 turns out to be a 996 and 3/4 with a hope that round lights and new tail treatment will have the masses running back to dealers, I think they are in for a big surprise. I read an article that (basically) quoted Dr. W. as saying that the 998 (totally new car/platform) has been pushed back because they still feel that the (soon to be 997) can extend Porche's stageringly high profits for a few more years thus enabling them to hold off spending huge $$ on an entirely new launch. I can't help but feel that attitude relies more on the merits of thier past accomplishments and successes (to sell current models) than it does on the merits of the current models themselves. They've made record profits in the last decade. Wouldn't it be nice to see those profits turn in to a vehicle for sale that isn't 6000lbs or upwards of $400,000.00? Isn't that what a Porsche is supossed to be anyway??